Rail mega-projects in the realm of inter- and intra-city accessibility: evidence and outlooks for Berlin

Abstract

This article summarizes and complements recent quantitative research on the impact of the Berlin railway system on the urban economy. Evidence suggests that access to intra-city rail lines has had a considerable impact on the value of urban land since at least the late nineteenth century. Since then, access to the intra-city rail network has remained a significant determinant of urban land value, although the marginal impact has decreased over time. In contrast, the post-unification realignment of Berlin's inter-city rail system has had, if any, only a weak impact on real estate markets. Micro-level simulations indicate that the new central station's connection to the urban railway network is likely to have more pronounced, although relatively localized impacts, raising the question of how to balance the cost for infrastructure among landlords and society.